Snake Venom Ch 60

Chapter 60

 

After parting ways with Im Sehan, Lee Yeonwoo boarded the car he had arrived in with Cheon Wooshin. This time, the passenger seat was his.

 

The car ride back to the lodging was quiet.

 

It must have been a truly exhausting day. Even though all he had done was rest his body in a space shielded from the cold, sleep fell upon him in chunks. Lee Yeonwoo stifled a series of yawns with a dry wash of his face.

 

‘Close your eyes for a bit.’

 

Cheon Wooshin’s voice sounded sweet to the ears. Indeed, a few hand wipes wouldn’t be enough to conceal such overwhelming drowsiness.

 

As someone seated in the passenger seat, Lee Yeonwoo believed it impolite to sleep alone, so he shook his head. Instead, he asked about the next meeting time. Even as he listened to Cheon Wooshin’s reply, yawns kept tearing from his mouth, making it a struggle.

 

To make matters worse, Cheon Wooshin’s scent playfully lingered between Lee Yeonwoo’s conscious and subconscious. Even in a drowsy state, a steamy memory surfaced, prompting him to ask for permission and crack open the window. As Yeonwoo let the wind hit his face, Cheon Wooshin turned on the radio beside him. Listening to elegant classical music, Lee Yeonwoo completely dozed off.

 

And now—this was the present moment. Lee Yeonwoo looked down at the blanket he had tossed aside upon waking and at the clothes he was still wearing from the day before.

 

He had no memory of waking up in between.

 

“Hm…”

 

The only person he had been with right before falling asleep was Cheon Wooshin. The only person who could have entered this lodging was also Cheon Wooshin. Imagining the man carrying him in, Lee Yeonwoo rubbed the back of his neck, which had grown unnecessarily warm. A blush spread across his soft, dumpling-like face. Stretching out his limbs with all his might, Yeonwoo rose briskly.

 

He had been too lax in his duty to watch over Cheon Wooshin. But since it was already in the past, he resolved to stay more alert next time. And having owed him another favor, he thought he should prepare a small gift. As he sorted through these thoughts, he yawned deeply once more.

 

He could have dawdled a little longer, but there was something he wanted more than sleep. That was the reason he had set his alarm a bit earlier.

 

Lee Yeonwoo headed straight to the bathroom. He plugged the clean bathtub and turned the valve. Clear water poured vigorously, quickly forming a shallow pool. Thickening steam spread in all directions. Dazed, he stared at the flowing water and rippling surface before settling onto the bathtub’s edge.

 

Reaching behind his neck, he pulled off his hoodie and T-shirt in one go. Static-charged strands of hair rose like dandelion fluff. His sleek upper body, densely lined with subtle muscles, was on the leaner side.

 

Running his fingers roughly through his messy hair, Lee Yeonwoo quickly removed his pants and underwear as well. He lightly rinsed his body and brushed his teeth in the adjacent shower booth. Steam rose from the bathtub as it filled with water. After washing his hair, Yeonwoo immersed himself in the water. Resting his head on the rim, he exhaled toward the ceiling.

 

“Ha… this is nice.”

 

A pleasant sigh escaped him. It had been ages since he’d taken a half-body bath. Happiness, indeed, wasn’t something far away.

 

The tub was large enough that even an adult man could stretch his legs comfortably. Lee Yeonwoo slapped the rippling surface, producing soft splashes, and scooped water with both hands. Watching the water fall between his fingers, he couldn’t help but smile. Bubble baths were great, but even soaking in clean water seemed to wash away old fatigue.

 

Lee Yeonwoo, who had been lounging comfortably, sat upright when the water reached past his chest. When he turned off the valve, a dense silence immediately settled in.

 

In the quiet space thick with steam, the sound of dripping water echoed sharply. Lee Yeonwoo, leaning against the tub wall, glanced absentmindedly down at his chest. It was the faint sense of something unusual that drew his gaze.

 

Even when he had pulled off his clothes or showered, he had avoided this area as if on purpose. But now he saw the flushed skin, ripened red, where Cheon Wooshin had touched and sucked. His expression turned wry at the sight.

 

‘You have to rub it a bit for it to swell. If there’s nothing to suck on, it’s no fun for me either.’

 

Ugh, no. Don’t think about it. Yeonwoo shook his head vigorously. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to force his thoughts elsewhere.

 

“……”

 

But why is it that the more you try not to think about something, the clearer it becomes? Just moments ago, it had been a peaceful time, but simply recalling Cheon Wooshin felt like being hit by a tidal wave.

 

‘Watch carefully, how I do it.’

 

Startled by the sudden memory, Yeonwoo bit down on his lower lip. A hand rose from beneath the water and slicked back his hair. He splashed water on his face repeatedly, enough to make it spill out of the tub, but the flush on his face only deepened.

 

“No… don’t get hard. Don’t…”

 

Desperately muttering to himself, Yeonwoo suddenly sprang up. In a panic, he turned on the shower valve. He directed it entirely to cold water. Ice-cold water poured down on his body, now drowsy from the warm soak.

 

It felt like a coarse broom was stabbing repeatedly at his crown. But Yeonwoo didn’t care. Under the stream, he stood like a hermit monk, enduring the cold water for a long time.

 

This wasn’t the kind of morning I wanted…

 

What should have been a warm and relaxing bath had turned into an embarrassing and chilling experience. Regret and frustration swelled, but inside Lee Yeonwoo burned something he absolutely had to extinguish. Refusing to define exactly what that was, he stepped out of the tub.

 

He hadn’t planned to dawdle, but the bath ended sooner than expected. Drying his hair with a towel, Yeonwoo finished getting ready with the same routine as the day before.

 

He held an inhibitor in his mouth and swallowed it with water in the kitchen. At that moment, his ear twitched faintly. He had sensed Cheon Wooshin’s presence. Lee Yeonwoo looked up expectantly at the second floor. Cheon Wooshin was coming down.

 

The only noticeable difference from the previous day was the Mandarin-collared shirt he wore underneath. Still, he looked so good that it brought a smile to Yeonwoo’s lips. Really now, was this necessary? Yeonwoo bowed in greeting.

 

“Good morning.”

 

“Yes, and you, Lee-ssi?”

 

Yeonwoo smiled. His face brightened with unmistakable joy.

 

“I woke up early and even took a bath. How’s my skin?”

 

His voice was soft, his tone playful. Cheon Wooshin’s hand reached toward Yeonwoo’s cheek. For a moment, Yeonwoo’s eyes widened, but it passed quickly. Silently clenching his fists, he accepted Cheon Wooshin’s touch without resistance.

 

“It’s soft.”

 

Lightly brushing his knuckles against Yeonwoo’s cheek, Cheon Wooshin seemed indifferent on the surface, yet he carried a gentle warmth. Despite not having spent much time together, he didn’t feel burdensome. It was one of the many abilities Cheon Wooshin possessed—making him appear even more impressive.

 

But now, Cheon Wooshin’s gaze lingered unusually long.

 

“Is there something on my face?”

 

“No.”

 

He denied it briefly and changed the subject.

 

“If you have laundry, let’s send it out today.”

 

“Yes, I was just wondering what to do with the pile.”

 

As Yeonwoo replied, his stomach let out a loud growl. It was nearly lunchtime. After finishing one glass of water, he poured another. Behind him, Cheon Wooshin looked slightly flustered.

 

“That was careless of me. I should’ve stocked the fridge.”

 

Realizing he had left someone with a good appetite unfed stirred even the usually composed Cheon Wooshin into a mild panic. While Yeonwoo went to fetch the laundry, Cheon Wooshin fiddled with his phone, intending to order something. At that moment, a cheeky question floated into his ear.

 

“So when are you buying me that shabu-shabu, team leader?”

 

“……”

 

Yeonwoo peeked at Cheon Wooshin’s profile, frozen in place. He seemed a little caught off guard.

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

With that concise reply, Cheon Wooshin picked up the pace again, and Yeonwoo closely followed behind.

 

“Can Im Sehan-ssi join us?”

 

“That’s fine. Let’s invite Suho and Doyoung too.”

 

As expected, for Cheon Wooshin, adding a few spoons to the table was nothing. Lee Yeonwoo silently clapped at his perfectly straight back as he opened the front door.

 

—

 

The restaurant, bustling with lunch crowds, was packed with customers. Unlike the upscale beef restaurant from yesterday, this one exuded a homier vibe, giving off the strong impression of a local favorite. Guided by a staff member, they entered a private room where Im Sehan and Jung Suho were hanging up their coats.

 

Yeonwoo, bowing in greeting, wore a curious expression. The way he darted his eyes suggested he had something to say, but he hesitated to speak up. Perceptive, Im Sehan said,

 

“He’s obsessed with work.”

 

He was referring to Ju Doyoung. The impression from their first meeting had hinted at it, but to think he’d go as far as to reject Cheon Wooshin’s invitation. Recalling the antagonistic look in Ju Doyoung’s eyes, Yeonwoo tried to shake off the discomfort.

 

Without Ju Doyoung, the meal was cheerful and light. Im Sehan and Jung Suho bickered the whole time, but their actions—like tossing food and saying “Isn’t this your favorite?”—showed hints of deep affection. As always, Cheon Wooshin ate with refined, composed manners, and Yeonwoo devoured everything without being picky. Even during the meal, he discreetly checked on Cheon Wooshin’s condition.

 

Food bought by Cheon Wooshin never disappointed. The broth was refreshing and clean, the vegetables fresh, and the meat of excellent quality. Thanks to a variety of sauces, every bite brought a new flavor. Once again, Yeonwoo emptied two bowls of rice. As he stepped out of the restaurant, patting his full stomach, a hum naturally escaped his lips.

 

Upon arriving at the shooting range, Cheon Wooshin gave him an order to practice.

 

“Train as much as you’d like. Don’t overdo it.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Since he had to check his scent regularly, his practice time would be roughly an hour from now. With his response, Yeonwoo stepped closer to Cheon Wooshin, who leaned forward slightly. The same scent from that morning flowed gently into his nose. It was subtly pleasant.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

Though only a day had passed, Yeonwoo had already memorized the necessary gear and steps. This time, instead of Jung Suho, a staff member guided him to the lane.